Slack adjuster



Nov. 13, m23. Mmmm W. H. SAUVAGE SLACK ADJ USTER Filed Aug. 20 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w. H. SAUVAGE SLACK ADJUSTER wil/.sauvage Nov. 3 i923.

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wILLrAM n. snuvaes, or Naw Yoan, N. Y., assrcfNon, BY ivrnsNn ASSIGNMENTS, To conan courtes coiursNv, or Naw vonir, N. Y.

SLACK ADS'USTER.

Application led August 20, 1921. Serial No. 493,773.

To all whom t muy concern Be it known that l, l.WILLIAM E. Sauvnen, citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful .Improvements in SlaclrAdjusters. of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in slackY adjusters and more particularly to automatic slack adjusters for use in connection with the brake rigging of railway cars. `While the invention will hereinafter be dcscribed more particularly with reference to its application to railway truck brake rigging, it is, of course, to be understood that without material modification the slack adjuster may be interposed between the live and dead levers of the foundation bralre rigging between the trucks.

One' of the objects of Vthe present invention is to Vprovide a simple and practical slack adjuster having relatively few parts which'may be inexpensively manufactured and assembled.-

A further object is to provide a slack adjuster ofthe above type which is reliable and eiiicient in use and operation at all times andof durable construction. v 1

A. further object is to provide a slaa'lr adjuster of the above type adapted to automatically talreup and hold the excess travel of the brake rigging and at all times insure .uniform piston travel or operation of the source of power applied.

Furtherobjects will be in part obvious and in part hereinafter pointed .out in connection with the accompanying sheets of drawingsforming part ofv this disclosure, in the several yviews of which similar :reference l e-,characters indicate corresponding parts.

In the accompanying drawings, showing two of various possible modifications of the invention,- 1

Figure l is ampi-an view 'of a. preferred niodiication of the slaclr adjuster adapted to be interposed between the lowerends of the liveand dead levers, (not shown) g Figure 2 is a side elevation of the slack adjustershown inFigfurel;

VFigure is a right end view ofthe parts shown inlligure 2;', L y Figurey 4 isa ,view showing the slack adjuster applied to the` lower end of a live Figure 5 is a sectional plan view of a slack adjuster taken from the underside, showing slight modication in the arrangement of parts; and

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the forni shown in Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings in detail and more particularly to Figure l, l0 indicates the tubular part of aV two-part telescopic push rod. The other part 11 is adapted to slide therein. These parts are provided at their outer ends with fastening devices l2 and 13, which, by means of pins 14 or the like, are secured to the lower ends of the brake levers, the dead lever preferably being connected to the part 12 and the live lever to the part 13. rlhis tubular member l0 is provided with an integrally formed housing l5, having a recessed portion 16, adapted to hold the ends of a plurality of holding devices, such as the dogs 17, these dogs being of general rectangular shape provided with openings having case hardened edges through which the member l1 is adapted to pass. A, spring 18 normally holds these dogs in canted position, as clearly shown in Figure l, whereby the edges 2O are adapted to bite into the rod 11 and prevent the relative inward movement thereof. `Positioned substantially parallel to this telescopic push rod is an adjusting. rod 21 provided with an upturned end 22having an eye 23 slotted so as to be adapted to engage a fulcrum pin or other fastening device 19 mounted part way up the live lever, whereby, as the live lever is actuated beyond a certain predeterminedl amount, the fulcrum pin, which fits loosely in the eye to provide a certain amount of lost motion for `brake shoe clearance, engages the` end of the eye and causes a relative .movement of the adjusting rod- 21 with respect to the telescopic push rod. -This rod 2l passes ythrough ears 2li, referabl Y cast inteffrall f e, P e

with the housinfr l5 and between the ears and on therod 2.1.is a thimble 25 provided with a flange 26. vThere 1s also an auxiliary holding dog 27 lying substantially parallel to the dogs 17 and having `an opening by a cotter pin 33 at the end of the'rod 21.-

It will also be noted that the tubular inem-V ber isV provided witha second housing within which the end of the adjusting rod 21'is adapted to move.

30-is a coil Vspring -31 reacting between one of the ears 24 anda plate 32 held in place This spring normally holds Ithe adjusting rod in such position as to hold one side ci' Vthe slot or eye 23 in engagement with the vfulcriim pin 19, passing therethrough, whereby the brake shoe clearance and lost motion isalways insured. It' the live lever 'p movesV towardV theright, pivotingon its ulcrum pin nearftliecenter, the brake shoes Y are forced against the wheels, and the pin 19 moved to the right side of the slot. Now

fas usually happens when cars are moving and rumbling over Vrough tracks, a heavy Y Qvibration is caused which maytend to vibrate the adjusting rod still further to the Y and theadjusting rod, this cushion spring right to the extent of tlieslot, so that on release of the brakes the usual brake shoe For Vvthis reason, the cushion or compression spring 31, being under slight tension, preclearance off the wheels may be lost.

vents thisrod 21 fromV moving except when positively moved aswhen excess wear of the Vbrake shoes or wheels takes place and the slack is to be takenup. In other words, this cushion spring is most important in 'preventing the occurrence of tight brakes. Then the adjusting rod is tripped, releasing at one andthe same time the push rod,

Y tends togive` prompt release of the slack adjuster proper, thereby permitt-ing an easy kreplacement of the worn brake shoes. Y

The construction shown in Figures 5 and 6 isesubstantially the same in many respects.

1 One of the more important points of difof aspacing pin 42 within the housing 15,

ference, however, resides in the positioning of the dogs within the housing. In this case, two dogs 40 are used, each being pro-V .vided with an independently operable spring Y 41 andthe dogs are spaced apart by means beingheld in place by Cotter' pins 43. A thimble 44 is positioned on the adjusting rod adjacent an 'auxiliary dog- 45, and -is held in the position shownrin Figure 5 by,

means of" a holdingV spring 46 reacting 'between thethimble and one ear 24 of the housing. When .the slack adjuster is n tripped, 'for replacing wornbrake shoes, f 'they dog 45 moves to a position Vnormal to V:the push Yrod V11 andthe anges`147 of thel thimble 44 coact with the dogs 40 `andmove {thein .intonreleasing position.l The'adjusting @red 2l is provdedpvthacol Spring 48 i-gopeiatinggin substantially A.the same man. ner fas"thelcushionfspring 31, shown in Fig "ureL f 'f Both of the devices shiiwiiiiithiepresent Coiled aboutthis-adjustingrod and within the housing withthe telescopic part ofthe push ly,'and "another` of saidvdogs co'a'et Y lease with both the Ypush rod andthe' adjustdrawings loperate in substantially the lfollowing manner: Whenthe brakes are applied the upper end of the live lever 50, shown in Figure 6, moves toward the'riglit, carrying the lowerl endof the live lever relatively towards the left. This reacts through the two-part push rod to carry the lower end ofA the dead'lever 51 towards the left, the upperend being irmlyflixed in the usual manner. This tends to bring the brake shoes into engagement with the wheels of the truck and apply the brakes. If at any time the travelpof either leverexceeds that necessary to bring the brake shoes into operative braking relation with.- the ,pe- ,ripheries of the wheelsrdue topwear of the parts orotherwise, then thelpin 52,.Fig-

ureG, exceeds thelost motion provided Jfor Vby the slot oreye 58 vand causes a relative `top ends of the Alive levers continue toreturn said livelever into full release position, any excess travelof the` adjusting rod Y further compressing theV cushion" or compressionV spring 48, which "tension remains constant untildogs 40 Vare releasedrrfor telescoping the push rod into the barrel. Spring 48 has no other function` except to 'prevent this Vrod 21 Yfrom creeping through vibra- Vtion to the right'before the brakes are applied. The usual release spring, returning the live lever into full release position, pullsV to the right the `push rod V11, taking up all excess travel of the slot 53Min theeye of the adjusting rod, thus compensating for any excess travel of the live lever.

slot forcing this rod to the right and stillY j ico Y From the above', it will be seen thatthe 1 present invention provides a simple and practical braking mechanisml which Vis re- Y liable 'and eii'icient in use .and operationand well adapted to accomplish among others all ofl the objects and advantages herein set forth.

YI claim: Y Y A" 1. In a sla-ck adjuster, in` combination, a

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two-partl telescopic push rod,fthe'jouter ends of which are adapted 'to be connected with the live and dead levers respectively, an ad-V j usting rod positioned substantially parallel thereto, a housing through 'Y Which-'said' l ad# justing rodV passes,v -aQplu'ralityof l'drags in said housing, Y some Vof said' dogs` co-,coacting ing rod, and spring means normall holding said dogs co-acting with the te escoping push rod in canted position to the said last mentioned doo projecting outwardly from the housing wiereby it may be moved to a position normal to the axis of the adjusting rod and simultaneously move the other dogs therewith, and a separate housing on the tubular part of said telescopic push rod enclosing part of said adjusting rod, and a cushion spring associated with said adjusting rod and positioned within said housing.

2. In an automatic slack adjuster, in combination with brake levers, a two-part telescopic push rod, a plurality of axially spaced holding means carried Yby one part and coacting with the other, and a holding spring for each of said means.

3. In an automatic slack adjuster, in combination with brake levers, a two-part telescopic push rod, a plurality of dogs carried by one part and co-acting with the other, and a holding spring for each dog, said dogs being spaced apart.

4. In an automatic slack adjuster, in combination with brake levers, a two-part telescopic push rod comprising a tubular member and a rod-like member telescoping therewith, a plurality of axially spaced apart holding means carried by the tubular member and co-acting with the other part, and an adjusting rod associated with one of the levers fogl varying the effective length of said push ro 5. In an automatic slack adjuster, in combination with brake levers, a telescopic push rod connecting said levers, an adjusting rod having a lost motion connection with one of the said levers, a spring coacting with one of the parts of said telescopic push rod, a re turn spring for the live lever, a plurality of holding dogs between the two parts of said telescopic push rod and a holding dog between one of said parts of the push rod and the adjusting rod.

6. In an automatic slack adjuster, in combination with brake levers, a telescopic push rod connecting said levers, an adjusting rod having a lost motion connection with one of said leve-rs, a spring co-acting with one of the partsof said telescopic push rod, a return spring for one of said levers, a plurality of holding dogs between the two parts of said telescopic push rod, a holding between one of said parts of the push rod and the adjusting rod, and independently operated springs, one for each of said dogs.

7. In an automatic slack adjuster, in combination with brake levers, a telescopic push rod connecting the lower ends of said levers, an adjusting rod having a lost motion connection with one of said lever fulcrums, a`

spring coacting with one of the parts of said telescopic push rod, a return spring for the live lever, a plurality of holding dogs between the two parts of said telescopic push rod, avholding dog between one of said parts of the push rod and the adjusting rod, and independently operated springs, one for each of said first mentioned dogs, said last mentioned dog projecting outwardly whereby it may be easily moved into a position at right angles to the axis of the push rod, thereby simultaneously moving the other dogs into a position at right angles thereto.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

WILLIAM I-I. SAUVAGE.

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